District of Columbia City Council Honors SisterMentors!‏

SisterMentors Receives Recognition Resolution of 2013
Councilmember Recognizes Organization for 15 Years of Service to the District of Columbia and Beyond

Washington, D.C. – January 8, 2013 – A local non-profit program, SisterMentors, received a Ceremonial Resolution from the Council of the District of Columbia to honor the organization’s 15 years of service, and dedication to expanding access to educational opportunities for women and girls of color in the community. The resolution, cited as “SisterMentors Recognition Resolution of 2013,” will take effect upon today in the District of Columbia Register.

“It is no secret that an educational achievement gap exists in this country, and [programs] like SisterMentors are essential in the fight to erase it,” said Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3). “By supporting and mentoring young women as they matriculate through college and graduate school, SisterMentors is providing an invaluable service to our community, and the city is grateful to them for all of their work.”

In 1997, SisterMentors was originally comprised of a group of highly motivated women of color of different races, ethnicities and backgrounds who came together to help each other complete their dissertations and earn their doctoral degrees. However, in 2001, the program expanded its efforts by mentoring young girls in elementary, middle, and high school to help reduce the high drop-out rates in the Washington, D.C. area.

“We are appreciative of the support of the Council of the District of Columbia and Councilmember Cheh and we are honored to receive this recognition from the city we love and are committed to serving,” said Dr. Shireen Lewis, Founder of SisterMentors. “Higher education for women of color is our passion and we are looking forward to guiding more young women to achieve their highest potential.”

Since its founding, SisterMentors has helped 19 young women of color get accepted to and attend college, including Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally, the program has helped 42 women of color earn doctoral degrees in many disciplines, including in math, science and economics from an array of universities, including American University and Howard University. Some of the women are now tenured faculty at universities, including at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

SisterMentors is a project of EduSeed, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. that promotes education among historically disadvantaged and underserved communities, particularly women and people of color.

Media Contact
Cherri Sinclair
347-397-2356
cherri.sinclair@yahoo.com

Who We Are: Founded in 1997, SisterMentors is a program of EduSeed, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. EduSeed’s mission is to promote education among traditionally disadvantaged and underserved communities such as women and people of color. EduSeed’s unique SisterMentors program changes the lives of girls and women of color through mentoring, promoting education and transforming communities. This two-fold mentoring initiative works both to help stop the high drop-out rate among girls of color, and increase the number of women of color who earn doctorates. SisterMentors has helped 19 young women to go to college and 42 women of color to earn doctorates. The women and girls are African Americans, Latinas, Asian Americans and immigrants.